In an August 2016 report to the United Nations General Assembly, Special Rapporteur Philip Alston criticized the UN’s response to the cholera epidemic in Haiti as “morally unconscionable, legally indefensible and politically self-defeating. It is also entirely unnecessary.” When the UN later announced that it would soon release a new plan for eliminating cholera from Haiti, Alston wrote a letter to follow up, commending the UN for the new approach but also suggesting ways to make sure it was truly just. The Deputy Secretary-General wrote back the following week with further details on the new plan, including “a package of material assistance and support to Haitians most directly affected by cholera.” Parts of both letters are included below. Special Rapporteur Alston also spoke at the United Nations General Assembly regarding cholera on October 25. He again emphasized the importance of a just response. […]

In this passionate op-ed, former UN Assistant Secretary General Banbury explains why he decided to resign from his position at the United Nations, even though he believes in the organization. Banbury describes the many ways the UN has failed all over the world due to bureaucracy and a lack of accountability when wrongs are discovered. He mentions the fact that MINUSTAH has been in Haiti since 2004 although the country hasn’t been at war, and has done nothing to help with Haiti’s current political crisis. Banbury expresses particular frustration over rapes and sexual abuse by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic, which could have been avoided to begin with and were ignored for a long time once reported. I Love the U.N., but It Is Failing Anthony Banbury, The New York Times March 18, 2016 I HAVE worked for the United […]

UN Special Envoy Pedro Medrano warns of more deaths to come from cholera epidemic in Haiti and lack of funding for treatments while diverting focus from UN responsibility for the epidemic. UN warns of surge in Haiti cholera deaths ZeeNews January 22, 2014 United Nations: A United Nations envoy warned Wednesday that cholera deaths in Haiti will surge and spread to other countries unless more funds are found to battle the epidemic. More than 8,330 people have already died from cholera, that started in 2010 and many blame on UN peacekeepers based in the impoverished Caribbean nation. But special envoy Pedro Medrano told AFP in an interview that legal wrangling over the epidemic has to be put aside in order to tackle the sweeping advance of the disease. Medrano said cash is lacking for purification tablets, anti-biotics and staff to […]